Happy Lesson The Final

Synopsis

The principal of the school where Chitose attends classes and his mamas teach set out an idea box. The idea was to get the teachers and students to write their suggestions and ideas for the school's benefit.

The selection eventually fell on Mutsuki's desire for the school to have its own library. The location ended up being the old, abandoned school building nearby. As work to tear down the place is planned, the teachers and students hold some sort of horror festivity there. It is at the end of the event that Fumitsuki Nanakorobi finally gathers her courage and confesses to Chitose.

Of course, things are never that simple. Why does Mutsuki-mama get so melancholy whenever the topic of the old school is brought into the light? Why does Chitose appear to be so irritable as well? And who the hell wrote the most insane piece of engrish I've ever read, which appeared at the start of the first episode? No, seriously; I didn't know whether to laugh like I've never laughed before, or cringe like... well, you know.

"Five young beauty teachers who wrap in a hero gently are fruits" indeed.

Review

Much to my own surprise, I was rather pensive about the new series when it was released as digisubs. Given the things that happened with the last series, Happy Lesson Advance, I had reason to be, I suppose. Nevertheless, I was relieved when I saw that the art and animation had been upped to more than just tolerable levels compared to the last showing.

It didn't take me long, however, to discover that the series itself had turned awfully serious all of a sudden. Granted, all the parts of the Happy Lesson saga have had their fair share of drama, but it hadn't been so downright..... well, angsty.... as this. Although given the sheer ridiculousness of the Advance series, I welcomed it at the time. The show just got a hell of a lot more interesting again, and I wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.

But, perhaps I should have.

It took quite some time for the third episode of Happy Lesson - The Final to be released, fully translated. Before that, I was treated to a Happy Lesson series that had the same level -- well, ALMOST -- of enjoyment as the original show, with the same kind of drama I had learned to enjoy in the original TV series and an even better OP theme to boot. The comedy was a bit off, but I didn't care.

Then, the third episode came and performed the slapfish dance on me.

What drama there was in said episode was cheapened and thrown to the side by some of the WORST comedy acts I've seen since.... well, I don't know. Bad jokes, singing -- at the most inappropriate times -- and characters behaving irrationally in the extreme managed to ruin scenes that was almost beautiful in execution. And just as I thought things couldn't get any worse, the show returned to its roots.

Congratulations, Happy Lesson. You can FINALLY be labelled as a harem show. If you'll excuse me for a couple of seconds, I just need to go over to my therapy corner and cry a little.

*ahem* Anyway, I guess I should be glad that the original TV series is still being one of my favorites. Hell, the Advance series isn't bad at all, since you can easily skip certain.... episodes. And I really hoped this show would raise the bar up to being a four star, as I had intended after two episodes. I can still manage to give this show my recommendation, but only if you are able to keep yourself from watching the last episode. The cringeworthiness of the material there is close to Guiness material.

Sad, but true.

(One star lost based on last episodes stupidity. Mama is not happy) — Stig Høgset

Recommended Audience: People are bathing naked and wearing swimsuits when ... well, swimming. If you expect to see anything explicit, though, you'll be sorely disappointed.